Hypertension in the United States Fire Service

Saeed U. Khaja, Kevin C. Mathias, Emilie D. Bode, Donald F. Stewart, Kepra Jack, Steven M. Moffatt and Denise L. Smith
Additional contact information
Saeed U. Khaja: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA
Kevin C. Mathias: Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
Emilie D. Bode: Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA
Donald F. Stewart: Public Safety Occupational Health Center, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Kepra Jack: HeartFit For Duty, LLC, Mesa, AZ 85206, USA
Steven M. Moffatt: Public Safety Health Systems, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
Denise L. Smith: Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: Hypertension is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cardiac remodeling and is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac events, the leading cause of duty-related death in the fire service. We assessed systemic blood pressures and prevalence of hypertension among US firefighters by decade of life. Medical records of career firefighters (5063 males and 274 females) from four geographically diverse occupational health clinics were assessed. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ?130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ?80 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. Results from the firefighter sample were compared to the US general population (2015–2016 and 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys). Among the total sample, 69% of firefighters met the criteria for hypertension and 17% were taking antihypertensive medications. Percentages of hypertensive male and female firefighters were 45% and 11% among 20–29 years old, respectively, and increased to 78% and 79% among 50–59 years old, respectively. Compared to the general population, male firefighters had a higher prevalence of hypertension ( p < 0.05) across all age groups (11–16% higher). In order to improve firefighter health and protect against sudden incapacitation in this public safety occupational group, increased efforts are necessary to screen for and manage high blood pressure.

Keywords: blood pressure; firefighting; firefighters; cardiovascular disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5432-:d:557969

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